Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-11-30
Mr.. Bryson Win Contest.


AT the recent election the race be-
tween Jas. F. Bryson, democrat, and E.
b. Peck. republican, candidates for
county treasurer. was very close, and
in the official canvass by the county
commissioners it was declared that Mr..
Peck was elected by a plurality of two
votes. At the time, Mr.. Bryson, by his
attorneys objected to the vote of Num-
ford precinct being counted, but the
objection was overruled
Monday, 18th inst, Mr.. Bryson, by
his attorneys, Denton Il Jones and E.
Sample of this city, and Judge j. l..
Order, of Wellington, gave formal
notice of his intention to contest the
election, giving six reasons why he
claimed the Office and why his opponent
should not be permitted to hold the
| same, and asking a recount of all the
ballots voted at the election. Mr..
Bryson fled his notice of contest with
the county clerk and fled his bond for
costs in the event of the contest being
decided against him.
Under the law, article 6 of chapter So
of the general statutes, it is the duty of
the probate judge to select two disinter-
ested persons who shall be associated
with him in trying the case. The coun-
ty clerk will be the clerk of the court
A day for trial shall be fixed by the pro-
bate judge and he is authorized to COM
pei the attendance of an officer and of
any witnesses that may be desired by
either side to the contest. The place of
trial shall be at the county seat unless
adjourned to some other place in the
ment of the court is IN favor of the con-
testor, any certificate heretofore grant
ed to the contestee is void and the con-
testOr will be entitled to the Office. If
there be a tie, the court will order that
the election be set aside. In that event,
the present treasurer would hold office
until after the next general election and
until his successor is elected and quail
fed. The present treasurer will hold
until next October, in any event, under
the present law.
For the benefit of those who will de-
Drecate this contest for the reason
that they suppose the county will have
to pay the costs, 1t may be stated here
that the county will not be liable for
dollar of costs. The confession or con-
testee, one or the other, will have to pay
the costs.
At this time the INDEX will not ven
ture an opinion as to what will be the
result of this contest. 1t is known,
however, that at Kiowa, two votes were
cast tor Mr.. BrysOn that were not can
yasSed, and it is said that at another
precinct one vote was cast that was not
counted. 1t is also claimed that resi-
dent of Harper county voted at one pre-
cinct, Notwithstanding protest, and
that he voted for Mr.. Peck. 1t is also
contended by Mr.. BrysOn and his attor-
neys that votes cast by residents of
Sharon township in Medicine Lodge
township were illegal and should not
have been counted. They hope to have
at least six of that class of votes cast
for Mr.. Peck thrown out
Probate Judge Hardy is regarded as
an upright judge, and there is general
belief that he will call to his assistance
two dislnterested, fair men, and that
this court will then be strictly governed
by the law and the evidence. Justice
Is all Mr.. Bryson or his friends ask.
This morning we learn that Judge
Hardy has selected Judge o. c. Howe,
of this city, and G. b. Wiley, of Kiowa,
to sit with him in the trial of this case.
The former is republican and the lat
| ter is democrat.